Magnetic Construction Toy

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a magnetic construction toy connection member that has a fist and second end where permanent magnet is disposed within the first end of the connection member and a ferromagnetic body is disposed in the second end. The ferromagnetic body may be a permanent magnet or a magnetizeable body. Both ends of the connector may be spherically shaped and form a closed surface bounding the magnetic bodies disposed therein. The first end may be of a truncated conical shape forming a closed surface boundary of the permanent magnet disposed therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a magnetic construction toy connection memberthat consists of a ferromagnetic body embedded in each of the oppositeends of the connection member for magnetically coupling with otherconnection members of like design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Connecting members for magnetic construction toys typically consist ofarm like structures having a permanent magnet carried captively at thearm extremities. The permanent magnets permitted the connecting memberto magnetically couple with a magnetic body that was a magnitizeablebody generally of spherical shape; the spherical shape allowed anomni-directional coupling of the connecting arm to the magnetizeablebody thereby permitting a number of geometrical structures to be formed.The magnetizeable spherical bodies were not integrally carried by theconnecting member but were separate structural members used to constructthe geometrical figures. The magnetizeable spherical bodies presented asafety hazard to small children who through oral exploration of the bodycould accidentally ingest the spherical body causing severe internalinjury to the child. To eliminate the threat of ingesting amagnetizeable or magnetized magnetic body of spherical shape by a smallchild, it would be desirable to provide a connecting member that socarries the magnetic body such that it is embedded and bounded withinthe ends of the connecting member thereby permitting a small child tosafely erect a geometrical structure through the magnetic coupling ofits structural members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The construction member of this invention used in one embodiment toerect a geometrical structure has a horizontal axis and a first end anda second end. A permanent magnet carried by the construction member isdisposed within the first end and adjacent the first end of theconstruction member where the first end is so proportioned anddimensioned to form a closed surface boundary that encapsulates thepermanent magnet. A second magnetic body is carried by the constructionmember in the second end and is disposed in the second end adjacent saidsecond end; the second end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form adielectric spherical closed surface boundary that encapsulates thesecond magnetic body.

In another embodiment, the construction member has a horizontal axis anda first and a second end. A permanent magnet carried by the constructionmember is disposed adjacent the first end of the construction memberwhere the first end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a closeddielectric spherical surface boundary that encapsulates the permanentmagnet. A second permanent magnet is carried by the construction memberadjacent the second end and is disposed within the second end; thesecond end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a dielectricspherical closed surface boundary that encapsulates the second permanentmagnet.

In another embodiment, the construction member has a horizontal axis anda first end and a second end. A magnitizeable body is carried by theconstruction member and is disposed within the first end and adjacentthe first end where the first end is so proportioned and dimensioned toform a dielectric spherical closed surface boundary that encapsulatesthe magnitizeable body. A second magnetizeable body is carried by theconstruction member adjacent the second end and is disposed within thesecond end where the second end is so proportioned and dimensioned toform a dielectric spherical closed surface boundary that encapsulatesthe second magnetizeable body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages will become appreciated as thesame become better understood with reference to the followingspecification, claims and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment illustrating theconnector member having spherically shaped ends.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment illustrating the connectormember having an truncated conical end and a spherically shaped end.

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a left side elevational view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a right side elevational view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 10-10;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a geometrical toy erected with connectionmembers of this invention;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a geometrical toy erected by a sequence ofthe connection members of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view an embodiment of the magneticconstruction toy 1 of this invention where two closed spherical surfaces2 and 3 are interconnected by construction arm 3. As can be seen in FIG.3, magnetic construction toy 1 has a horizontal axis 6, a first end 7and a second end 8 where both ends 7 and 8 are integral with closedspherical surfaces 2 and 3, respectively. Preferably the closedspherical surfaces 2 and 3 and the construction member 4 are composed ofa non-conductive material 9 which may be dielectric. As can further beseen in FIG. 6, closed spherical surfaces 2 and 3 encapsulateferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12. Ferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 mayconsist of permanent magnets, a permanent magnet and a magnetizeablebody, or both bodies may consist of being magnetizeable. Preferably thediameters of closed spherical surfaces 2 and 3 are at least twice thecross-sectional diameter of construction member 4, and thatferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 are permanent magnets. Alternatively,however, ferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 may consist of a permanentmagnet and a magnetizeable body, respectively, or both ferromagneticbodies 11 and 12 may be magnetizeable bodies. Commonly knownferromagnetic materials are iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium dioxide, andalnico which is an aluminum-nickel-cobalt alloy whereas aluminum andcopper are non-ferromagnetic materials into which magnetism cannot beinduced by a magnetized body.

Another alternative is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7, and 10. Referring toFIG. 2, it can be seen that magnetic construction toy 13 has a first end14 and a second end 16 interconnected by construction arm 17. First end14 consists of a closed truncated conical surface 18 having a distalopening 19. The base 21 of closed conical truncated surface 18 isintegral with the base of closed cylinder shaped surface 22. Bothtruncated conical surface 18 and cylindrical surface 22 are co-axialwith horizontal axis 23 which is more clearly shown in FIG. 9. Referringto FIG. 10, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 10-10of FIG. 7, it can be seen that magnetic construction toy 17 is radiallysymmetric to horizontal axis 23. As can further be seen in FIG. 10,first end 14 radially encapsulates ferromagnetic body 24 which is apermanent magnet. Construction arm 17 is made of a non-conductingmaterial, preferably plastic, that is integral with closed sphericalsurface 16; closed spherical surface 16 encapsulates ferromagnetic body21 and is made of the same non-conductive material that composesconstruction arm 17. In fabricating magnetic construction toys 1 and 13,the shell portions 27 and 28 and construction arm 17 preferably areformed in two sections, one section being shown as the result ofcross-section 6-6. The two sections are glued or ultrasonically weldedtogether after ferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 are secured within shells27 and 28, respectively, thereby forming a seam and encapsulatingferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 within closed spherical surfaces 2 and 3.

Preferably the diameter of closed spherical surface 16 is at least twicethe cross-sectional diameter of construction arm 17 and thatferromagnetic body 26 is a magnetizeable body which may be magneticallyinduced by a permanent magnet such as permanent magnet 24 to permitmagnetic coupling.

By encapsulating ferromagnetic body 26 within closed spherical surface16 and providing a surface at least twice the cross-sectional area ofconstruction arm 17, magnetic construction toy 13 is dimensionallydesigned so as to immunize a small child from orally ingesting thedevice.

Referring to FIG. 11, a geometrical arrangement of magnetic constructiontoys 13 is illustrated. Any one or more of construction toys 13 may bereplaced by construction toys 1 in erecting the structure. FIG. 12further illustrates a sequence of magnetic construction toys 1 and 13forming a connective chain through the magnetic coupling offerromagnetic bodies 11, 12, 24 and 26.

While I have shown and described a magnetic construction toy having aconstruction that promotes safe use for toddlers and small children, itis understood that the invention is subject to many modificationswithout departing from the scope and spirit of the claims recitedherein.

1. A magnetic construction toy for coupling with a magnetic bodycomprising: a) a construction member having a horizontal axis and afirst end and a second end; b) First means carried by said constructionmember adjacent said first end and disposed therein in fixed immovablerelationship with said first end for omni-directionally and magneticallycoupling said first end with a magnetic body where said first end is soproportioned and dimensioned to form a closed surface at least in partbounding said first means; c) second means carried by said constructionmember adjacent said second end and disposed therein in fixed immovablerelationship with said second end for omni-directionally andmagnetically coupling said second end with said magnetic body where saidsecond end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a closed sphericalsurface bounding said second means.
 2. The magnetic construction toyrecited in claim 1 where said first means comprises a first permanentlymagnetized body.
 3. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 2where said second means comprises a magnetizeable body.
 4. The magneticconstruction toy recited in claim 2 where said second means comprises asecond permanently magnetized body.
 5. The magnetic construction toyrecited in claim 1 where said first means comprises a magnetizeablebody.
 6. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 5 where saidsecond means comprises a magnetizeable body.
 7. The magneticconstruction toy recited in claim 4 where said closed surface boundingsaid first means is spherically shaped.
 8. The magnetic construction toyrecited in claim 7 where said closed surface bounding said second meansis dielectric.
 9. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 2 wheresaid closed surface bounding said first means at least in part is anaxially extending truncated cone having an opening at said first end.10. A magnetic construction toy for coupling with like constructedmagnetic construction toys comprising a construction member having ahorizontal axis and a first end and a second end; a first permanentmagnet captively carried by said construction member adjacent said firstend and disposed therein in fixed immovable relationship with said firstend for omni-directionally and magnetically coupling with one of saidlike constructed magnetic construction toys where said first end is soproportioned and dimensioned to form a closed surface bounding at leastin part said first permanent magnet; and a first magnetic body captivelycarried by said construction member adjacent said second end anddisposed therein in fixed immovable relationship with said second endfor omni-directionally and magnetically coupling said second end withanother of said like constructed magnetic construction toys where saidsecond end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a spherical closedsurface bounding said first magnetic body.
 11. The magnetic constructiontoy recited in claim 10 where said closed surface bounding said firstpermanent magnet is at least in part an axially extending truncated conehaving an opening at said first end.
 12. The magnetic construction toyrecited in claim 10 where said closed surface bounding said firstpermanent magnet is a spherical surface.
 13. The magnetic constructiontoy recited in claim 10 where said first magnetic body is a permanentmagnet.
 14. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 10 where saidfirst magnetic body is a magnetizeable body.
 15. A magnetic constructiontoy for coupling with a magnetic body comprising: a) a constructionmember having a horizontal axis, a lateral diameter, and a first end anda second end; b) a first permanent magnet carried by said constructionmember adjacent said first end and disposed therein in fixed immovablerelationship within said first end for omni-directionally andmagnetically coupling said first end with a magnetic body where saidfirst end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a closed sphericalsurface surrounding and bounding said first permanent magnet; c) asecond permanent magnet carried by said construction member adjacentsaid second end and disposed therein in fixed immovable relationshipwithin said second end for omni-directionally and magnetically couplingsaid second end with said magnetic body where said second end is soproportioned and dimensioned to form a closed spherical surfacesurrounding and bounding said second permanent magnet.
 16. The magneticconstruction toy recited in claim 15 where said closed spherical surfacesurrounding said first permanent magnet is dielectric and has a diameterat least twice said lateral diameter.
 17. The magnetic construction toyrecited in claim 16 where said closed spherical surface surrounding saidsecond permanent magnet is dielectric and has a diameter at least twicesaid lateral diameter.